Grant to aid repeat flooding victims in Valley

Tuscarawas County has received a $1.26 million hazardous mitigation grant that would cover the purchase, demolition and removal of seven residential homes, one mobile home and one vacant lot along flood-prone Potschner Drive NE, Canal Road and a few on state Route 800.

For the past 20 years, Carol Seibert has enjoyed her view of the Tuscarawas River, which flows 40 to 50 feet from her home. She considered herself lucky to have such a great view when she moved in with her mother, Jean Toth, at 3227 state Route 800 north of Dover.

“We love this place down here,” Seibert said.

But their home was flooded in 2005 and again in 2008. Their property was damaged and insulation was gone. Both times, the two women would have to leave their home for weeks, and rely on close friends so they could utilize running water and electricity.

They weren’t alone. Their neighbors, living along state Route 800, Potschner Drive NE and Canal Road, also would leave, usually with a few staying behind to pump out the water and work to salvage furniture and clothing.

They bought their homes because of the scenic river, but learned that living between the Dover Dam and the Wooster Avenue Bridge was causing far too much trouble.

HELP ON THE WAY

Tuscarawas County officials agreed something had to be done.

“Some of the houses have been flooded repeatedly,” said Jill Lengler, flood plain coordinator and director of the Tuscarawas County Regional Planning Office.

That’s why Lengler contacted Seibert and her neighbors and asked if they’d sell their property to the government if the funds were available.

Lengler recently learned that the county has received a $1.26 million hazardous mitigation grant that would cover the purchase, demolition and removal of seven residential homes, one mobile home and one vacant lot along Potschner Drive NE, Canal Road and a few on state Route 800.

“It’s purely voluntary,” Lengler said.

Lengler explained that an appraiser will be hired to determine the value of the properties, and as long as the owners agree, they will be paid and vacate so the county can remove the buildings.

After the removal, the space can be used only for outdoor recreation, such as trails, outdoor pavilions and open space, Lengler said.

“The Ohio Erie Canal Coalition agreed to own it,” she said.

The total project comes to $1,267,720, and is covered completely by grants. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is covering the bulk at $950,790 with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency covering $158,465. The local amount, which also is $158,465, is covered through a grant from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.

She said the flooding not only went into the residential basements, but could also flood septic tanks, as well as cause other issues.

“The whole purpose of a mitigation grant is to stop paying for repetitive losses,” Lengler said.

The county has two years to complete the project, she added. Lengler is hoping to start the process in April.

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Darrin Lautenschleger, public affairs administrator for Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, said his organization was happy to participate in the mitigation grant.

“Our goal in participating in these type of projects is to leverage local dollars to get these important projects done,” he said.

He said removing structures in the path of natural floodways is important, and he believes the funding will greatly help the property owners.

“I would assume they would have had issues with the values of those properties related to the frequent flooding that would occur there,” Lautenschleger said. “This will assist them to sell those properties and be able to move from that area and not have the constant concern and worry from that location.”

A FRESH START

Seibert is hoping everything works out with the sale and removal.

The first time the flooding occurred, water filled her yard, and would have filled the home if it weren’t for Seibert’s brother, Mike Moore.

Seibert and her mother vacated the home while her brother worked around the clock to pump out water and keep it from hitting the first floor.

“He did that for 16 days, or we would have lost the house,” she said.

During that time, he wasn’t able to use the restroom or drink any water, Seibert said.

“He couldn’t use well water, because it would be contaminated,” she said.

It happened again in 2008. “It was Easter Day. We had 20 people coming in, and at 3 o’ clock, they told us to get out,” she said.

“I worry about it every year,” Seibert said of the flooding. “You don’t know what’s coming.”

After that, Seibert realized they probably needed to move, but selling a home in a flood plain would be nearly impossible.

“I hope I can buy another home because nobody else is going to buy my house, that’s for sure,” she said.

If everything goes as planned, Seibert and her mother will be moving to another Dover area location, probably on a hill “away from the water,” she said.